New Delhi : French water major Suez has said it has won two contracts in water distribution and network management in Udupi and Puttur in Karnataka.

These 12-year contracts, worth a total of €27 million, will ensure a continuous 24X7 water supply to a population of 200,000 inhabitants.

The contracts are part of the investment programme launched in 2014 by the Central Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement 24x7 drinking water supply in cities of Karnataka.

These cities, including Udupi and Puttur, have seen remarkable population growth in recent times, which has led to increasing needs for drinking water and treatment infrastructure.

In Udupi, SUuez will be responsible for rehabilitation of the existing water production plant and the upgrade and rehabilitation of existing distribution networks and house service connections.

These works will be taken up in a phased manner and will last four years. They will be followed by an eight-year operation & maintenance period of the infrastructure to ensure 24X7 drinking water supply to the inhabitants of the city.

In Puttur, Suez will rehabilitate the drinking water distribution system, including the pump station, reservoirs, network, house service connections, meters & valves, among others. The three-year construction phase will be followed by a nine-year operation and maintenance period of the water infrastructure.

The objectives of both the projects are to improve services for the customers through various initiatives including customers care centers, 24X7 call centers and online facilitation of payments.

"Drinking water distribution contracts in India are shifting progressively towards water management services for a whole city, as illustrated by the last contracts won by Suez in Coimbatore, Davanagere, and now in Udupi and Puttur. India is a dynamic market for the Group and we are proud to join the local authorities’ initiatives to ensure 24X7 water supply to a rapidly growing population", said Suez Group Senior Executive VP - Africa, Middle East, India, Asia & Australia Bertrand Camus.

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